Mishkan T'Filah by Karen Swanay

I got mine last week and I am in love with this book! Do you have one? Did you order yours already? No? Well that's OK because the Temple can order more. You've missed the $35.00 early order price...you'll now have to pay $40.00 but for this book it's absolutely worth it!

You can use the ones at the Temple, and in fact the student Rabbi will be using this Siddur on 12 September. But trust me, you'll want at least one for yourself at home. I plan to get a cover for mine so that I can drag it around with me for reading.

This is so much more than just a Siddur. The writers and editors did a beautiful job on this project. Not only does this give you the prayers both in Hebrew, English and transliterated but they also offer what I'd call "meditation prompts" that pertain to the passages from the Torah.

I understand some people have asked for their own, and that's great, Helaine can order more, but you need to tell her you want one and get her your $40.00/volume. (That includes postage.) But if you haven't asked for one, or are undecided if you need this book at home, let me offer a quote from the editors.

"The title Mishkan T'filah is drawn from Exodus 25:8 where G-d commands us to build a portable sanctuary that can accompany us on our wanderings. 'And let them build Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.' Mishkah T'filah is a dwelling place for prayer, one that moves with us wherever we might be physically or spiritually. It offers the opportunity for G-d, the individual, and community to meet.

The desert mishkan was a portable sanctuary. Its care was guarded by the Levites and the priests yet it invited all to bring their offerings. Today, we are all caretakers of Mishkan T'filah; may our offerings be acceptable before G-d."

So to my mind, this is the purpose of this book...not to sit on the shelves of the Temple, waiting for that monthly Shabbat service, but to be read, carried about, brought to the hospital, to the park, and on vacation. Much as the kippah is a reminder to us of the covenant between G-d and the Jews, the Mishkan T'filah is our personal and portable sanctuary where we can commune with Him and know that as we do, other Jews are doing the same.

Please consider getting one for yourself. You won't be sorry you did.

September President's Message by Helaine Norman

I can’t believe that soon the summer will be over, and the High Holy Days already upon us!

I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year as we approach Rosh Hashanah, the birthday of the world, and Yom Kippur, our Sabbath of Sabbaths! As Jews living in a Christian-dominated society we well know how difficult it is to be observant of our own faith because the holidays and Sabbath come at times that often conflict with work, school and other holidays. But these days are the ones even more important than the Sabbath. It was instilled in me early on that nothing could be so important that once a year a Jew could not observe these holiest of days. I remember my papa explaining that it gave one self-respect and also gained it from the non-Jews of the community. I couldn’t help but think that in some way this is what it is meant to be the “chosen people,” to be an example of what is the right thing to do on these holiest of days.

I am so looking forward to having Rabbi Kenneth Kanter on our pulpit for the High Holy Days, a great honor indeed! And, I look forward to seeing you all there and schmoozing with you at our special oneg on erev Rosh Hashanah and the Break-the-Fast-Together following the Yiskor Service on Yom Kippur.

Due to inclement weather forecasts we had to postpone the first day of Sunday Shul and its teachers’ workshop, and also a leadership workshop planned for this month. However, we held services and it was a pleasure to have a minyan even with some rain from Tropical Storm Fay.

Earlier in the month we were also glad to be able to gather for a minyan, thanks to Nathan Miller for making it happen, to say Kaddish for our Mayor Scott Clemons’ sister-in-law and his brother (Allyn and Gerry Clemons, Jr.), who are Conservative Jews, and reside in the Chicago area. I wish everyone could have seen how grateful this family was to be able to do this. We’ve had to call a minyan together on other such occasions, and it is a mitzvah that we have our congregation and are able to provide this at such times. There are so many reasons for our temple to exist, but this is certainly one of them.

I read an article this week by Rabbi Scott Sperling. He represented the Union for Reform Judaism in its alliance with the Commission on Interreligious Affairs at the Muslim World League’s World conference on Dialogue in Madrid, Spain. (Rabbi David Rosen, Director of the American Jewish Committee’s Department of Interreligious Affairs, also attended.) The article stated, “There are moments when we can sense that history is in the making..” “There were moments of discomfort and anxiety, but most speakers focused on positive aspects of interreligious dialogue.” At times sparks flew, but during the course of the conference, members of at least four different faiths repeated their version of the maxim, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” “This occasion represented just such a first step.” After the conference among one of the emails he received from one of his new Indian-Muslims he met read, “I did not know that there are so many organizations in the US that promote interfaith dialogue and interfaith understanding. This day my outlook towards the West has changed drastically and I believe that I am the one who has benefitted the best…” Let’s look forward eliminating misconceptions of other cultures, and instead to understanding, and reconciliation!

On that note, I was recently asked to represent our religion at the Unity Church here in Panama City for their yearly observance of a World Religious Symposium in the aftermath of 9/11. I will speak at 7 p.m. on September 16. Their goal is for them and others to learn about other faith traditions so we can all better understand one another, with the intention of building bridges that move us beyond misconceptions and stereotypes so that we may indeed live in a peaceful world. They are hosting four evenings with each night focused on one faith. Rev. Darby Neptune and I both encourage you to attend one or any of these evenings in this endeavor. The symposium’s schedule follows:
Tues., Sept. 16 - Judaism
Thurs., Sept. 18 - Buddhism
Tues., Sept. 23 - Hinduism
Thurs., Sept. 25 - Islam

Each program is 7:00 – 8:30 pm, hosted by the Unity of Panama City and open to the public. The address is: 1764 Lisenby Avenue, Panama City, FL, Phone: 850-769-7481


Likewise, Liz Berman will be representing our congregation on October 5 about the High Holy Days at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Together we are a community, and together we can build meaningful bridges for Tecun Olam, repairing the world!

New Feature!

I have been meaning to add this feature for a while now, and I've finally gotten around to it. I will, from time to time, post quotes, readings, and links that I think are interesting or worth cogitating upon. I welcome suggestions from you all for items to add here. You'll know it's a "study" item when you see this icon in the corner. I hope you all get as much out of this as I do.


Because the High Holidays are coming, my first offering has to do with these most important of days.
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"I hereby forgive all who have hurt me, all who have done me wrong, whether deliberately or by accident, whether by word or by deed. May no one be punished on my account. As I forgive and pardon fully those who have done me wrong, may those whom I have harmed forgive and pardon me, whether I acted deliberately or by accident, whether by word or deed. I am now ready to fulfill the commandment of "to love my neighbor as myself." - Jules Harlow, editor: Machzor for Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur

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Rabbi Simha Bunam of Pzysha once asked his disciples, "how can we tell when a sin we have committed has been pardoned?" His disciples gave various answers but none of them pleased the rabbi. "We can tell," he said, "by the fact that we no longer commit that sin." - Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim: Later Masters

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I offer these to you for internal reflection. I read a lot and often come across things that I note for later study or quiet meditation.

Karen

Two Rabbis to Give Invocations at Both National Conventions

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will deliver the invocation at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Aug. 28, 2008.

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION: Rabbi Ira Flax, a retired military chaplain now living in Birmingham, has been asked to give the invocation during the Wednesday session of the Republican National Convention. The convention will be Sept. 1 to 4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Flax said he was asked to deliver an invocation on Sept. 3, likely at the evening session.

Donate Life by Helaine Norman

Rabbi Eric Yofie, President, Union for Reform Judaism: "The Union for Reform Judaism is proud to join the growing movement to raise awareness of and involvement in this area (donating organs). If you desire, it can be done online by accessing Visit www.donatelife.net at our state donor registry. -- Helaine Norman

Sunday Shul Canceled for This Week

Cancellation--
Due to the uncertainty around T.S. Fay, the first day of Sunday Shul on August 24th is canceled. The new "first day of Shul" is September 7 from 9:30-11:30a.m.If you didn't register but still want to attend, just show up or contact the Temple.

--Paul Zipes

DUES REMINDER!!

DUES PAID BY 31 Aug 08 QUALIFY FOR A 10% REDUCTION! CREDIT CARD PAYMENT AVAILABLE

Sometimes, we have to remember...

Generally, I wouldn't publish things that are less than pleasant on the blog, but I think this is important. Not only should we be aware that travel abroad may not be safe, we should also be on watch for what governments do when confronted with things like this. Do they respond aggressively enough? Do they remain vigilant against recurrence? Do they do nothing? And based on what they do, we have to decide if we will chose to vacation there or support their industries.

FROM BLOG: Islam in Europe - News and opinions on the Islamic Community in Europe and the West, focusing on Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

French prosecutors have opened an investigation after T-shirts carrying anti-Semitic slogans were seen on sale in a shop in Paris.

The tops carried slogans in German and Polish that translate as "Jews forbidden from entering the park". They were reproduced from Nazi signs from 1940 that targeted the Jewish community in the Polish town of Lodz. Some 95% of more than 200,000 Jewish people there would die in concentration camps during World War II.

The sales assistant at the Parisian store, in the Belleville district, said one person had bought five of the grey, sleeveless garments for about 18 euros ($27) each. She said she did not understand what the inscription meant. The neighbourhood of Belleville in eastern Paris has been the site of ongoing scuffles between groups of Jewish youngsters and youths of North African origin. France has one of the largest Jewish communities outside Israel, numbering about half a million people.

Source: BBC (English)
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This comes on the heels of the 22 June attack of a Parisian teen by a group of, alleged Mulism, teens of North African extraction. The boy, a 17 yr old member of the Lubavitch comunity was left in a coma and the police had detained 5 teens in connection with the beating. Sammy Gholzan, from the Bureau for Viligance on Anti-Semitism, said a group of six or seven youths attacked the teenager with metal bars and "smashed his skull". The 17-year-old was wearing a kippah when he was attacked in Paris' multi-ethnic 19th district on Saturday evening, according to Ariel Goldmann, vice president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France.
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So I'm left wondering...how safe is France for Jews?

High Holidays Information

High Holy Days are just around the corner. Your tickets will not be mailed. Instead, you will be able to pick them up at the door when you arrive for services.

If you have not yet sent in your membership application but want to be a member, please call or Nathan Miller at 215-2056 or me at 522-8685.

High Holy Days tickets are free for members. If we do not have your application we cannot know of your desire to be a member or if we should prepare tickets for you. Non-members are wholeheartedly welcome! But, there is a nominal fee for tickets. We made this decision in fairness to those who have paid dues or made arrangement to do so.

Remember, no one will EVER be turned down for membership for financial reasons, and what is discussed is completely confidential. Just call me or Nathan, Treasurer. We want you and need you in our Temple family.

PULPIT -- We are honored to have Rabbi Kenneth Kanter, Dean of the Hebrew Union College, to conduct services this year. His extensive bio appears elsewhere in this blog.

BREAK-THE-FAST-TOGETHER --Traditionally our community potluck Break-the-Fast-Together is one of the most enjoyable mealtimes of the year for our community. Contact Debra Holbrook at 230-0383 to discuss or let her know what you will bring to our community Break-the-Fast-Together meal.

HIGH HOLIDAYS SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

Rosh HaShanah

Monday, September 29 Erev Rosh Hashanah 7:30 pm

Tuesday, September 30 Rosh Hashanah 10:00 am

Children’s Service 3:00 pm

Yom Kippur

Wednesday, October 8 Erev Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre 7:30 pm

Thursday, October 9 Yom Kippur 10:00 am

Children’s Service 3:00 pm

Yizkor 4:00 pm

Neilah Closing Service 5:00 pm

Break-the-Fast

HIGH HOLY DAYS TICKETS

Members: Free but you MUST tell us how many you need!

Non-Members:

Adults: Rosh Hashanah $35.00

Yom Kippur $35.00

All Services $70.00

Non-affiliated Students : All services $35.00

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to Members and Friends,
On September 29th we will welcome Rosh Hashanah together at services withRabbi Kenneth Kanter and our cantorial soloist Melissa Gray. One year ends and another begins.

It is a time for reflection and renewing our trust in G_d. Just as Abraham's trust in G_d was tested in the story of the binding of Isaac, the Torah portion we read on the first day of Rosh HaShanah, many of us have faced our own tests. We come individually to strengthen our personal relationship with G_d and in return gain strength from G_d, and we also come together as a community. We are reminded that we are not alone. We have our personal thoughts and reflections, but we have the support of many others. The High Holidays are not a solitary experience. So much of the beauty and spiritual enrichment of the High Holidays come from this sense of community. The spirit of the High Holidays carries on throughout the year when we show each other we care.

At the close of services on Erev Rosh Hashanah, everyone will have an opportunity to greet one another and wish each other a happy new year. Cake and coffee will be served. We emphasize the sweetness of the new year.

The Ritual Committee wishes everyone good health and happiness and a sweet New Year.

~ Liz Berman, Ritual Committee Chair

Growing Up Jewish

Do you remember this...you may especially if you grew up in NY!

The Yiddish word for Today is PULKES (PUHL-kees) Translation: THIGHS. Please note: this word has been traced back to the language of one of the original Tribes of Israel, the Cellulites.

The only good advice that your Jewish mother gave you was:"Go! You might meet somebody!"

You grew up thinking it was normal for someone to shout "Are you okay?" through the bathroom door when you were in there longer than 3 minutes.

Your family dog responded to commands in Yiddish.

Every Sunday morning your father went to the neighborhood deli (called an "appetitizing store") for whitefish salad, whitefish "chubs"), lox (nova if you were rich!), herring, corned beef, roast beef, cole slaw, potato salad, a 1/2-dozen huge barrel pickles which you reached into the brine for, a dozen assorted bagels, cream cheese and rye bread (sliced while he waited).

Every Sunday afternoon was spent visiting your grandparents and/or other relatives.

You experienced the phenomenon of 50 people fitting into a 10-foot-wide dining room hitting each other with plastic plates trying to get to a deli tray.

You had at least one female relative who penciled on eyebrows which were always asymmetrical.

You thought pasta was stuff used exclusively for Kugel and kasha with bowties.

You were as tall as your grandmother by the age of seven.

You were as tall as your grandfather by age seven and a half.

You never knew anyone whose last name didn't end in one of 5 standard suffixes (berg, baum, man, stein and witz).

You were surprised to discover that wine doesn't always taste like cranberry sauce.

You can look at gefilte fish and not turn green.

When your mother smacked you really hard, she continued to make you feel bad for hurting her hand.

You can understand Yiddish but you can't speak it.

You know how to pronounce numerous Yiddish words and use them correctly in context, yet you don't know exactly what they mean. Kaynahurra.

You're still angry at your parents f or not speaking both Yiddish and English to you when you were a baby.

Your grandparents' newly washed linoleum floor was covered with the NY Times, which your grandparents couldn't read.

You thought speaking loud was normal.

You considered your Bar or Bat Mitzvah a "Get Out of Hebrew School Free" card.

You think eating half a jar of dill pickles is a wholesome snack.

You're compelled to mention your grandmother's "steel cannonballs" upon seeing fluffy matzo balls served at restaurants.

You buy 3 shopping bags worth of hot bagels on every trip to NYC and ship them home via FedEx. (Or, if you live near NYC or Philadelphia or another Jewish city hub, you drive 3 hours just to buy a dozen "real"bagels.)

Your mother or grandmother took personal pride when a Jew was noted for some accomplishment (showbiz, medicine, politics, etc.) and was ashamed and embarrassed when a Jew was accused of a crime .. as if he were a relative.

You thought only non-Jews went to sleep away colleges. Jews went to city schools ... unless they had scholarships or made an Ivy League school.

And finally, you knew that Sunday night and the night after any Jewish holiday was designated for Chinese (kosher, of course.... hah!), food.

Temple B’nai Israel Annual High Holy Days Food Drive

We will be having our customary food drive for the hungry this year during our High Holy Days. Tzedakah, commonly translated as charity, is the obligation to see to the needs of fellow human beings who are unable to meet their own needs. In that spirit, please bring non-perishable foods - such as canned goods, spaghetti, cereals, dried beans, and soups - to any of our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services. Your donations will go directly to the

Family Services Agency of Panama City.

WE CARE, AND NEED YOUR HELP TO OFFER OURS by Georgie Hartzog

Please call me at the temple office (522-8685) when a family member is in the hospital or ailing. Too often we find out about illnesses, crises and hospitalizations after they occur. These are missed opportunities for calls and visits that may give comfort. Please let the temple know if there is a concern in your family or another family of our congregation (with their permission). We need your help in order to offer ours.

Georgie Hartzog, Caring Committee Chair

Mitzvah Cards by Georgie Hartzog

Mitzvah Cards

Get well wishes for Jim Norman from Georgie and Terrell Hartzog

Get well wishes for Jim Norman from Nathan and Anne Miller

Get well wishes for Sarah Feldstein from Jim and Helaine Norman

Get well wishes for Sue Bassin from Jim and Helaine Norman

Get well wishes for Sue Bassin from Nathan and Anne Miller

Get well wishes for Bob Ginsberg from Jim and Helaine Norman

Get well wishes for Bob Ginsberg from Nathan and Anne Miller

Get well wishes for Judy Heyman from Jim and Helaine Norman

Thoughts and Prayers

* Let our individual heartbeats merge as we keep the following in our prayers........

Sarah Feldstein

Sue Bassin

Jim Norman

Bob Ginsberg

Judy Heyman

Helaine Norman